US Vice President-elect JD Vance’s photo with his wife Usha Vance’s Indian family has gone viral on social media. In the picture, Mr Vance can be seen wearing a blue t-shirt and jeans while holding his son on his shoulder. His wife, dressed in a yellowish-brown outfit can be seen on the left side, holding their daughter. Alongside the couple, about 21 family members can be seen enjoying themselves in what appears to be a party in the backyard of a home.

Asha Jadeja Motwani, a Silicon Valley-based venture capitalist, shared the undated pic and captioned it as saying: “JD Vance at Thanksgiving. Reminds me of the big fat Indian wedding.”

JD Vance at Thanksgiving -). Reminds me of the big fat Indian wedding…. pic.twitter.com/vzEjODMRZt

— Asha Jadeja Motwani (@ashajadeja325) December 2, 2024

As the post went viral, reactions poured in from all quarters with the majority appreciating the Ohio senator for his sweet and loving family.

“JD got a sense of real family,” said one user, while another added: “Lots of respect to Vance here for spending time with his wife’s fully Indian family. It can be hard for an outsider to adapt to Indian culture, especially with the older generation. Seems like they had a great time.”
A third added: “His son is sitting on his shoulder in a pure Indian way.”

However, some white supremacists once again launched racist attacks on the Republican leader and his wife for the picture. Nick Fuentes, a far-right commentator, infamous for his absurd takes, posted the image and wrote: “If you support JD Vance you are either being paid by Peter Thiel or you’re ngmi.”

Also read | “Meat And Potatoes Guy Who Cooks Indian Food”: Usha Vance On Husband

JD Vance’s love for India and Indian food

Speaking to popular podcast host, Joe Rogan, earlier this month, Mr Vance waxed lyrical about the appeal of Indian vegetarian cuisine and how his wife had influenced his food choices.

“For any vegetarian out there, indulge in paneer, rice, and chickpeas. Skip the nasty fake meat. If you want to embrace a vegetarian lifestyle, turn to Indian cuisine. It offers wonderful vegetarian options,” said Mr Vance.

The Republican leader also recalled an early attempt at impressing Usha with homemade vegetarian food that didn’t go as planned. “I rolled out a flat thing of crescent rolls. I put raw broccoli on top of it. I sprinkled ranch dressing, and I stuck them in the oven for 45 minutes.” The result, he said, was “disgusting”.

Usha Vance and JD met at the Yale University in 2014 while pursuing their law degree. JD’s memoir describes Usha as his “Yale spirit guide” who helped him navigate life at the elite varsity. The couple has three children together.

US Vice President-elect JD Vance’s photo with his wife Usha Vance’s Indian family has gone viral on social media. In the picture, Mr Vance can be seen wearing a blue t-shirt and jeans while holding his son on his shoulder. His wife, dressed in a yellowish-brown outfit can be seen on the left side, holding their daughter. Alongside the couple, about 21 family members can be seen enjoying themselves in what appears to be a party in the backyard of a home.

Asha Jadeja Motwani, a Silicon Valley-based venture capitalist, shared the undated pic and captioned it as saying: “JD Vance at Thanksgiving. Reminds me of the big fat Indian wedding.”

JD Vance at Thanksgiving -). Reminds me of the big fat Indian wedding…. pic.twitter.com/vzEjODMRZt

— Asha Jadeja Motwani (@ashajadeja325) December 2, 2024

As the post went viral, reactions poured in from all quarters with the majority appreciating the Ohio senator for his sweet and loving family.

“JD got a sense of real family,” said one user, while another added: “Lots of respect to Vance here for spending time with his wife’s fully Indian family. It can be hard for an outsider to adapt to Indian culture, especially with the older generation. Seems like they had a great time.”
A third added: “His son is sitting on his shoulder in a pure Indian way.”

However, some white supremacists once again launched racist attacks on the Republican leader and his wife for the picture. Nick Fuentes, a far-right commentator, infamous for his absurd takes, posted the image and wrote: “If you support JD Vance you are either being paid by Peter Thiel or you’re ngmi.”

Also read | “Meat And Potatoes Guy Who Cooks Indian Food”: Usha Vance On Husband

JD Vance’s love for India and Indian food

Speaking to popular podcast host, Joe Rogan, earlier this month, Mr Vance waxed lyrical about the appeal of Indian vegetarian cuisine and how his wife had influenced his food choices.

“For any vegetarian out there, indulge in paneer, rice, and chickpeas. Skip the nasty fake meat. If you want to embrace a vegetarian lifestyle, turn to Indian cuisine. It offers wonderful vegetarian options,” said Mr Vance.

The Republican leader also recalled an early attempt at impressing Usha with homemade vegetarian food that didn’t go as planned. “I rolled out a flat thing of crescent rolls. I put raw broccoli on top of it. I sprinkled ranch dressing, and I stuck them in the oven for 45 minutes.” The result, he said, was “disgusting”.

Usha Vance and JD met at the Yale University in 2014 while pursuing their law degree. JD’s memoir describes Usha as his “Yale spirit guide” who helped him navigate life at the elite varsity. The couple has three children together.

Indian investors snapped up Greek properties at a record pace in July and August to secure permanent residency before the country’s Golden Visa Programme underwent significant changes on September 1. Property purchases by Indian investors in Greece saw a remarkable 37 per cent increase between July and August, data show. The surge was led by buyers seeking to capitalise on the existing minimum investment requirements. 

Now the changes in the Golden Visa Programme have doubled the minimum investment required to qualify for a visa through real estate purchases. In Tier I cities, including Athens, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, and Santorini, the threshold has increased €800,000 800,000 (approximately Rs 7 crore). 

In Tier II regions, covering all other parts of Greece, the minimum investment has risen to €400,000 from €250,000. 

Greece Golden Visa Programme

The Greece Golden Visa programme is a premier residency-by-investment initiative designed to attract non-EU nationals to invest in Greece.

In 2024, the programme was updated to better align with Greece’s economic strategies, introducing new investment thresholds and conditions.

Eligibility criteria

• Non-EU/EEA citizenship
• Age 18+
• Clean criminal record
• Medical insurance
• Good character

Benefits

• Residency Rights: Right to reside in Greece without mandatory stay requirements.
• Schengen Area Access: Visa-free travel within the Schengen Zone.
• Family Inclusion: Eligibility for family members to obtain residency.
• Pathway to Citizenship: Potential to apply for Greek citizenship after seven years of residency, subject to conditions.

Application Process and legal requirements

Required Documentation

• Valid Passport: Current and any previous visas.
• Proof of Investment: Property contracts, bank statements, etc.
• Biometric Data: Required for the application.
• Health Insurance: Policy valid in Greece.
• Criminal Record: Clean criminal record from the applicant’s country of residence, officially translated into Greek.

Legal Representation

• Mandatory Lawyer: Licensed to practise in Greece. 
• Role of Lawyer: Facilitates document preparation, and submission, and ensures compliance with Greek immigration laws.
• Power of Attorney: Often required for the lawyer to act on the applicant’s behalf.

Renewal and Permanent Residency

• Initial Permit: Issued for five years, renewable as long as the investment is maintained.
• Permanent Residency: Eligible after seven years of continuous residency in Greece.

Dependents

• Spouse and Partner: Including legally recognised cohabitation agreements.
• Children: Under 21, or older if financially dependent and studying.
• Parents: Dependent parents of the primary applicant or spouse.

Indian investors snapped up Greek properties at a record pace in July and August to secure permanent residency before the country’s Golden Visa Programme underwent significant changes on September 1. Property purchases by Indian investors in Greece saw a remarkable 37 per cent increase between July and August, data show. The surge was led by buyers seeking to capitalise on the existing minimum investment requirements. 

Now the changes in the Golden Visa Programme have doubled the minimum investment required to qualify for a visa through real estate purchases. In Tier I cities, including Athens, Thessaloniki, Mykonos, and Santorini, the threshold has increased €800,000 800,000 (approximately Rs 7 crore). 

In Tier II regions, covering all other parts of Greece, the minimum investment has risen to €400,000 from €250,000. 

Greece Golden Visa Programme

The Greece Golden Visa programme is a premier residency-by-investment initiative designed to attract non-EU nationals to invest in Greece.

In 2024, the programme was updated to better align with Greece’s economic strategies, introducing new investment thresholds and conditions.

Eligibility criteria

• Non-EU/EEA citizenship
• Age 18+
• Clean criminal record
• Medical insurance
• Good character

Benefits

• Residency Rights: Right to reside in Greece without mandatory stay requirements.
• Schengen Area Access: Visa-free travel within the Schengen Zone.
• Family Inclusion: Eligibility for family members to obtain residency.
• Pathway to Citizenship: Potential to apply for Greek citizenship after seven years of residency, subject to conditions.

Application Process and legal requirements

Required Documentation

• Valid Passport: Current and any previous visas.
• Proof of Investment: Property contracts, bank statements, etc.
• Biometric Data: Required for the application.
• Health Insurance: Policy valid in Greece.
• Criminal Record: Clean criminal record from the applicant’s country of residence, officially translated into Greek.

Legal Representation

• Mandatory Lawyer: Licensed to practise in Greece. 
• Role of Lawyer: Facilitates document preparation, and submission, and ensures compliance with Greek immigration laws.
• Power of Attorney: Often required for the lawyer to act on the applicant’s behalf.

Renewal and Permanent Residency

• Initial Permit: Issued for five years, renewable as long as the investment is maintained.
• Permanent Residency: Eligible after seven years of continuous residency in Greece.

Dependents

• Spouse and Partner: Including legally recognised cohabitation agreements.
• Children: Under 21, or older if financially dependent and studying.
• Parents: Dependent parents of the primary applicant or spouse.